Get Certified. Get Found. Get More Contract Opportunities.
NYC Get Certified helps small businesses across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley identify and pursue the certifications and vendor registrations that open doors to public-sector work: city, state, federal, and agency.
Private consulting firm, not a government agency. We are not affiliated with any city, state or federal agency. You can apply directly with any agency yourself, and NYC and NYS M/WBE certification are free to apply for. We charge for our help, not for the certification. Official sites: NYC SBS, NYS ESD, and every agency we cover.
Programs we help you prepare for
Plain-English guides, checked against each agency's own rules.
Program names are for reference. We are a private firm and are not affiliated with any agency.
Why Work With NYC Get Certified?
We are an independent consulting service — not a government agency — focused on one thing: helping your business pursue the right certifications the right way.
Experience in the NYC market
We work with contractors across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley every day.
Specialists for every agency
Our team knows the distinct process at NYC SBS, Empire State Development, the SCA, the SBA, and more.
Expertise across every level
City, state, federal, and agency programs — we map the full landscape so nothing is missed.
Free eligibility review
A no-obligation check that shows which programs your business may qualify to pursue.
End-to-end preparation
We gather, organize, and prepare the paperwork — you do not face the forms alone.
Screened applications
We only pursue programs you may qualify for, so your time and money go where they count.
Eighteen programs. One eligibility check.
Scroll through every certification and prequalification NYC contractors may qualify for — grouped by city, state, federal, and agency.
Each program has its own ownership, size, and operational requirements. Take the free eligibility check to see which ones your business may qualify to pursue.
New York City
NYC MBE — Minority-Owned Business Enterprise
01NYC Small Business Services
Unlocks: City set-asides and M/WBE participation goals on city contracts.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ minority-owned and controlled
- •in business 1+ year
- •NYC office or proven NYC market presence
NYC WBE — Women-Owned Business Enterprise
02NYC Small Business Services
Unlocks: City set-asides and M/WBE participation goals on city contracts.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ woman ownership and control
- •in business 1+ year
- •NYC office or proven NYC market presence
NYC LBE — Locally Based Enterprise
03NYC Small Business Services
Unlocks: Participation goals on city construction in designated areas.
You may qualify if:
- •small construction firm
- •doing business in economically disadvantaged NYC areas
New York State
NYS MBE
04Empire State Development
Unlocks: State contract goals — agencies statewide carry MWBE participation requirements.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ minority-owned, operated and controlled
- •personal net worth within program limits
- •NYS business presence
NYS WBE
05Empire State Development
Unlocks: State contract goals — agencies statewide carry MWBE participation requirements.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ woman-owned, operated and controlled
- •personal net worth within program limits
- •NYS business presence
NYS SDVOB
06NYS OGS
Unlocks: 6% participation goals for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses on state contracts.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans
One Stop Filing
07NYS → NYC SBS → Port Authority
Unlocks: File once, reach multiple programs: a NYS application can carry addendums to NYC SBS and the Port Authority — one document package, up to three programs.
Federal
SBA 8(a) Business Development
08U.S. Small Business Administration
Unlocks: Federal sole-source and set-aside contracts, 9-year development program.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals
- •within SBA financial limits
HUBZone
09U.S. Small Business Administration
Unlocks: Federal set-aside contracts for firms in historically underutilized business zones.
You may qualify if:
- •principal office in a designated HUBZone
- •required employee residency in a HUBZone
WOSB / EDWOSB
10U.S. Small Business Administration
Unlocks: Federal set-asides for women-owned small businesses.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ owned and controlled by women
- •small business per SBA size standards
VOSB / SDVOSB
11SBA VetCert
Unlocks: Federal set-asides for veteran- and service-disabled-veteran-owned businesses.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans
DBE — Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
12NYS Unified Certification Program
Unlocks: Federally funded transportation work — MTA, Port Authority, DOT projects carry DBE goals.
You may qualify if:
- •51%+ disadvantaged ownership
- •within personal net worth limits
Agency Programs & Prequalification
NYCSCA Prequalification
13School Construction Authority
Unlocks: Bidding NYC school construction. The SCA only awards to prequalified firms.
You may qualify if:
- •2+ years in business
- •applicable references in each trade you apply for
- •registered with the NYS Division of Corporations
SCA Mentor Program
14School Construction Authority
Unlocks: SCA-certified M/W/LBE firms bid against each other on school projects up to $1M, then $1M to $3M as Graduate Mentors.
NYCHA Vendor Registration / Prequalified Lists
15NYC Housing Authority
Unlocks: Work with the largest public housing authority in the country.
MTA EDGE Small Business Program
16Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Unlocks: MTA construction contracts up to $1.5M (Tier 1) or $5M (Tier 2), with training and mentoring.
Port Authority (PANYNJ) Certification
17Port Authority of NY & NJ
Unlocks: M/WBE, SBE and DBE participation on Port Authority work: airports, bridges, tunnels and terminals.
Agency Registrations: PASSPort, SAM.gov, NYS DOL Contractor Registry
18City / Federal / State vendor portals
Unlocks: Not certifications, but the accounts and registrations you need before any of it counts. We set these up.
Who We Help
We work with small businesses across the New York metro area that want to compete for public-sector work. If you do not see your industry listed, ask us — most operating businesses can pursue at least one program.
Construction & Trades
- •General contractors
- •Electrical
- •Plumbing
- •HVAC
- •Masonry
- •Roofing
- •Painting
- •Flooring
- •Demolition
- •Concrete
- •Carpentry
- •Steel & iron work
Professional Services
- •Engineering
- •Architecture
- •IT & technology services
- •Marketing & design
- •Accounting & bookkeeping
- •Legal support
- •Consulting
Suppliers & Vendors
- •Building materials
- •Equipment suppliers
- •Catering & food service
- •Office supplies
- •Janitorial & cleaning
- •Trucking & hauling
Other Small Businesses
Don't see your industry? Most operating small businesses can pursue at least one certification or vendor registration. Take the eligibility check and we will review your case.
Why Certification Matters
Certification is how your business becomes visible and eligible to participate in public-sector procurement.
Get Listed and Get Found
Certified firms appear in agency vendor directories that procurement officers and primes search when sourcing.
Access Procurement Opportunities
Many city, state, and federal contracts carry participation goals that set aside work for certified firms.
Build Relationships with Prime Contractors
Primes actively seek certified subcontractors to meet participation requirements on larger projects.
Business Development & Networking
Certification opens agency programs, mentorships, and networking events built for certified firms.
Certification does not guarantee contracts, awards, preferences, or revenue. It makes your business eligible to compete for opportunities that carry participation goals.
How It Works
From eligibility check to submitted application — four simple steps.
Take the free eligibility check
Answer a few questions about your business — about three minutes, no obligation.
Get your personalized program list
See which certifications and registrations your company may qualify to pursue, in priority order.
Schedule a free consultation
Talk through your results with a certification specialist — no paperwork needed for the call.
We prepare your applications
We handle the document gathering, forms, and submission end-to-end, across every program you pursue.
Getting Certified Is Step One. Let's Help You Use It.
Certification opens the door — winning the work is what grows your business. Through Managed Construction, we help certified firms find, pursue, and compete for public-sector opportunities across NYC, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.
Powered by Managed Construction
Certification is the doorway. Using it is where the work happens.
Managed Construction helps certified firms find, pursue, and win public-sector opportunities across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley — so the certification you earn actually turns into work.
Visit Managed ConstructionFrequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about certification, eligibility, and how we work.
Eighteen programs. One eligibility check.
You don't need to figure out which of these fit — that's the point of the check. Answer once, see every program worth pursuing, in the right order.
Check My Eligibility